Tell us a bit about you and your business.
I’ve been working in the social care industry since 2017. After finishing my studies I became a child protection social worker and launched Thrive Social Work a couple of months ago. Thrive Social Work builds apps for children’s social workers with the aim of tackling burnout. Social workers can use the apps to help manage both their workload and wellbeing in the same place.
Some features include a smart task list which manages all your meetings, visits and assessments and a wellness tracker that tracks stress, fatigue and motivation to try and catch signs of burnout early. It is essentially a platform for the organisation of caseloads in an evidence based way.
Was there anything in particular that inspired this idea?
I’ve had the idea for Thrive Social Work for a while now. It came after first hand experience struggling to manage my workload, experiencing burnout myself when I was a social worker and knowing this could be avoided with the right tools and support. I always knew it would be difficult to take the plunge and go from a secure job to starting my own business but I think it’s very important to tackle these issues in the social care sector, both for the workers and the children and families we serve.
I think seeing the struggles of social workers magnified by the coronavirus pandemic also contributed to my decision to go for it and try to make a change.
What would you say has been your biggest achievement so far?
I would simply say starting! The uncertainty of starting your own business and fear of failing is very daunting but being able to build a community for people doing such impactful and meaningful work is important to me and completely worth it.
I’ve also had the opportunity to work with others who are dedicated to supporting social workers and it’s great to see people are committed to tackling the issues they face. Frontline Fellowship's innovation lab has supported my business with mentoring and funding which has been invaluable. As I grow my business I’m hoping to partner with mental health organisations, local authorities and charities.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started your business?
It sounds cliché but definitely to believe in yourself and your idea. Self doubt can eat away at you, especially when you’re out of your comfort zone, so it’s important to learn how to manage this.
How was Rocket Lawyer able to help you?
I had to get an NDA created really quickly so I used Rocket Lawyer to do so. It was extremely straightforward, seamless and effortless to do.
Would you recommend Rocket Lawyer?
Yes, the documents are really easy to create, sign and share securely.
